Appliance for artificial-ice plants.



C. W. VOGT.

APPLIANCE FOR ARTIFICIAL ICE PLANTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, I914.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916. 22 11.

APPLIANCE FOB ARTIFICIAL-ICE PLANTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 25, 1816.

Application filed November 19, 1914. Serial No. 872,991.

To all 10 hom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE W. Voo'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Appliances for Artificial-Ice Plants, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a device or appliance used in connection with the production of artificial ice from raw water, and by raw water is meant water which has not been subjected, previous to the freezing operation, to a distilling treatment, and the invention deals with the means for removing sediment from such water during the freezing operation and clarifying the resultant ice.

The objects of the present invention are to produce an appliance of the character specified by means of which a circulation, or agitation, of the water within an ice can will be produced, thus bringing the sediment contained in the water to the center of the ice block and preventing it from becoming embedded in the frozen ice.

A further object of the invention is to produce this agitation of the water and circulation thereof by means of applying alternate suctional and pressure force which sucks an amount of the water out of the can and then discharges it back thereinto.

A. further object of the invention is to arrange the parts of the appliance so that (they ''ill be automatic in action, eliminating any necessity of close attention on the part of the operator during the use thereof.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the device that it will contain very few moving parts, and will thus be durable of operation and not liable to become disorganized and put out of order.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple arrangement for receiving the alternating pressure and suctional force and transmitting the same to the water within the ice can.

A further object of the invention is to supply a plurality of headers and to have [branch pipes extending from these headers and into the ice cans and to control the degree of suction or pressure for any individual header.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for turning the branch pipes to bring the ends thereof out of the ice cans and to out off the'passage of suction or pressure to such pipes when so turned.

A further object of the invention is to control the outlet passage of the pressure and suction transmitting members on the ends of the branch pipes.

The invention further consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view showing the appliance of the present invention in operative relation to a series of ice cans within a freezing tank; Fig. 2 is a front View partially in section of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional de-- tail of the member on the end of the branch pipe which transmits the suction and pressure to the water within the ice cans; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of the valvecontrolling the passage of pressure and suction to the header pipes; Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the member shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the joint by means of which the branch pipes are turned; and Fig. 7 is a detail section taken at right angles to the line of section of Fig. 2.

The present invention, as before stated, relates to an appliance used in connection with the freezing of artificial ice from raw water. It is the usual practice in making artificial ice to first subject the water employed, to some sort of distilling process for the purpose of clarifying the same from dirt or sediment. Such distillation necessarily adds to the expense of operation and lengthens the process. It is, therefore, from the standpoint of production, far more expedient to use raw water or water which has not been subjected to any distilling operation, but the main objection to the use of raw water is that it is filled, to a greater or less degree, with dirt and sediment, and unless this is removed in some manner it will be embedded in the ice, which, of course, is extremely undesirable especially if the ice be used for domestic purposes, as for instance broken up and placed in drinks. It has been found that sediment or dirt can be eliminated from this raw water, by producing a circulation or agitation of the water so that it continuously sweeps across the surface to the ice as it is being formed. Various means have been utilized for producing this agitation or circulation of water, and it is primarily for the production of such agitation or circulation, that the appliance of the present invention is designed. It is to be noted that in the process of artificial freezing the ice usually forms in the sides of the can and continues the freezing operation toward the center.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a tank 6 is illustrated of a character employed in artificial ice plants, which tanks contain a series of cans or receptacles 7 generally referred to as ice cans. The tank 6, in use, contains a brine solution maintained in a cold condition by means of pipes extending therethrough or vessels contained therein, through which pipes or vessels passes a liquefied gas which is more or less volatile in nature, and by the evaporation of this gas in said pipes or vessels, heat is withdrawn, and the freezing action produced. These cans 7 are filled with water, and in the process with which the present invention is concerned, namely, making ice from raw water, suchcans are filled with water taken directly from the usual source of supply, and not first subjected to any distilling operation. A pipe 8 and a pipe 9 are located above and along the side edges of the tank 6 (see Figs. 1 and 2). The pipe 8 may be termed a pressure pipe and the pipe 9 a suction pipe. These pipes communicate with any suitable source of suction and pressure supply, as for instance, they may communicate with the intake and exhaust ends respectively of an ordinary blower fan, although the source of pressure and suction is immaterial, and may be varied in accordance with the idea of the manufacturer or user.

Located at periodical intervals, and between the pipes S and 9, are a series of valve casings 10, each of which contains a valve 11 having therein right angled passages 12 and 13. The pipe 8 is put into communication with a port 14 in said valve casing by a suitable connection and the pipe 9 with a port 15 in said casing by a suitable connection and connected to a threaded opening 16 in said valve casing is a short pipe 16 which by a suitable swivel coupling 17 is connected to a header pipe 17 extending across the tank 6, as will be clearly seen from Fig. 1. The provision of a swivel joint is necessary to permit the headers 17 to be swung upward and out of position where they would not interfere with the removal of the ice cans, the header 17 assuming a horizontal position above the outer rail of the tank 6 when said cans are to be removed. So by reason of the arrangement of the valve 11 and the valve casing 10 communication is established between the pipes 8 or 9 and the cross pipes or headers 17, the position of the valve passage 13 determining whether the pipe 8-or thepipe 9 is in communication with the header 17. These valves are actuated, in the construction shown, by means of arms 18 attached thereto, and the arms in turn, are connected by a rod or other'suitable member or members 19, which is reciprocated back and forth by means of an eccentric 20 on a main driving shaft 21. With the valve in position shown in Fig. 4:, communication is established between the pipes 9 and 17, and a suction is being'exerted within the cross pipes or headers 17 When, however, the valve is moved a quarter turn in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, communication is established between the pipes 8 and 17, and a pressure exerted within the cross pipes or headers 17, so that by a reciprocating motion the valve is moved to alternately transmit pressure and suction to the headers 17.

Extending from the header 17 are branch pipes 22, there being one branch pipe for each ice can, and these branch pipes by means of a suitable coupling extend downward, and into the interior of the ice can and attached to the lower ends of each branch pipe is what may be termed a transmitting member 23, since this member t ansmits the suction and pressure exerted within the headers to the water within the can. This transmitter comprises a body portion raving a chamber 24 therein and passages 25 and 26 leading from said chamber. The lower end of the chamber 25 is closed by a rin 27 having an opening 28 therein and a ball valve 29 acts to control communication through said opening. A shiftable member is pivoted to the body of the transmitter" 23 by a pin 31, and a portion 32 of said shiftable member, projects beyond the body and forms a finger piece, by manipulation of which the shiftable member which, as shown, is in the form of a cross plate, is moved to different positions, thus the area of the opening at the discharge end of the passage 26 can be controlled, so as to permit of a greater or less flow therefrom as desired. The operation of this portion'of the device is as follows: 1

Assuming a suction tohave been created in the headers 17, the efiect of said suction in the branch pipes leading from said headers, is to draw the ball 29 upward and away from its seat, and to draw water from the ice can through the passages 25 and 26 and into the chamber 24. When the suction is cut off from said headers and a pressure established therein, the effect of the pressure in the headers and branch pipes, is to force the valve 29 again toits seat and force the water previously sucked into the chamber 24 out through the passage 26 and into the ice can. Thus by drawing the water out of the can and discharging it back into the can a circulation is established, which as previously explained tends to gather the sediment toward the center of the can, where it is collected in the form of a core. Afterthe, freezing operation is complete, this sediment core can be withdrawn by any suitable means and the cavity causedby its withdrawal refilled with distilled w'at'eigwliereupon a clear cake of ice is produced. 'This core ofs'ediment may be eliminated bydropping it out of the bottom of the can, where the cansare made integral with the tank, or in the case where the cans are suspended in the brine, it may be withdrawn by a suction pump and other water poured in to -fill up the cavity.

I locate an ordinary butterfly valve 33 in the connection between the valve casing 10 and its associated header 17, there being one valve for each header. A; handle 3 operates said valve, and saidhandle is locatedin the construction shown, adjacent to a disk or plate 35 formed, if desired, with suitable gage marks. By moving this handle 34 to various positions the amount of suction and pressure transmitted to the cross pipes or headers 17, with which a particular valve 33 is associated, may be varied during the freezing operation, it being advisable to have the amount of suction and pressure small when the freezing operation is nearing its completion. Suitable means may be provided for locking this handle and valve in place, and by means of this simple arrangement the operator is not required to give close attention to the apparatus during the freezing operation.

I also employ in connection with each of the branch pipes 22 a coupling which consists of a collar or ring 36, attached to a pipe 37 comprising a portion of the branch pipe 22, and an eccentric sleeve 38 attached to another pipe 39 which likewise comprises a portion of said branch pipe. This eccentric sleeve 38 has a passage 40 therethrough, and the sleeve is formed with a flange 41 which abuts against the collar 36, as will be seen from Fig. 6. A clamping ring 37 is provided which holds the sleeves 38 in position with respect to the ring 36. The sleeve, however, can turn with the portion 39 of the branch pipe 32, and this portion of the branch pipe is connected to the transmitting member 23, so that when it is desired to move the transmitter out from the ice can, the pipe 39 and the sleeve 38 are swung moving the transmitter out from the interior of the can, and at the same time owing to the eccentric character of the passage 40, through the sleeve 38, said passage is brought out of communication with the pipe 37, and the passage of pressure or suction from the pipe 37 to the pipe 39 is cut off, all of which will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 6. The device is, of course, susceptible of structural changes and modifications, and it is not my intention to limit the invention in any other way than may be by the terms of the appended claims.

It isunderstood that the device of the present invention may be utilizedfor circulating other liquids than water, and in fact it maybe used in an connection where it would be practical or the, circulation of liquids.

' I claim: Y

1. In an appliance of the class described, the combination of a header pipe, a series of branch pipes .from said header pipe, a 'sucpressure pipe and. header pipe and, cutting ,ofi' communication between the suction pipe and header pipe, substantially as described.

In an appliance of the class described, the combination of a header pipe, a series of branch pipes from said header pipe, means for alternately creating a suction and pressure in said header pipe, and means for controlling the degree of suction and pressure transmitted to the header pipe, substantially as described.

3. In an appliance of the class described, the combination of a header pipe, a series of branch pipes from said header pipe, means for alternately creating a suction and pressure in said header pipe, means for controlling the degree of suction and pressure transmitted to the header pipe, and means for moving said branch pipes independent of the header pipe, substantially as described.

a. In an appliance of the class described, the combination of a header pipe, a series of branch pipes from said header pipe, means for alternately creating a suction and pressure within said header pipe, means for con trolling the degree of suction and pressure transmitted to the header pipe, means for moving said branch pipes independent of said header pipe, and means for cutting oii communication through said branch pipe when so moved, substantially as described.

5. In an appliance of the class described, comprising a series of headers, a series of branch pipes for each header, a suction pipe, a pressure pipe, valvular means for controlling communication between said suction and pressure pipes and saidheader pipes, and means operated from a single source of power for actuating said valvular means, substantially as described.

6. In an appliance of the class described, the combination of a header pipe, branch pipes leading from the header pipe, means for alternately creating a suction and pres surein said header pipe, an attachment on the end of each branch pipe comprising a chambered member formed with passages leading from the chamber therein, a valvular control for one of said passages, and means for regulating the intake and discharge area of the other of said passages, substantially asdescribed.

7 In an appliance of the class described,

the combination of a header pipe, branch I pipes leading from said header pipe, means for alternately creating a suction andpressure in said header pipe, a member on the end of each branch pipe formed With a chamber and having passages leading from said chamber, a check valve for'controlling communication between one of said passages and said chamber and shiftable means for varying the intake and discharge area of the other of said passages, substantially as described.

8. In an appliance of the class described, the combination of a header pipe, branch pipes leading from said header pipe, means cross plate for controlling the other of said passages, substantially as described.

' CLARENCE W. voG'T."

l/Vitnesses:

G. I. ELLIS, S. M. NUTTALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. Y 

